Digital tachos
- success for FTA,
April 23, 2004
The Freight Transport Association is delighted by the success of its legal
action in telling the European Commission that it would be held responsible
for industry’s wasted costs resulting from the EC failure to produce
a viable timetable for the introduction of digital tachographs.
A statement from the EC (21 April) has removed much of the uncertainty
regarding fitment – or failure to fit – digital tachographs
which, in any event, are not yet available on the market. FTA will now
be seeking clear undertakings from the UK Government, and its enforcement
Agencies, that it will be applying the moratorium on enforcement of the
regulations, as provided by the Commissioner. FTA will also call on the
UK Government to seek similar assurances from other EU member states
and for the Department for Transport to act as guarantor for any fines
picked up by UK operators working in Europe.
FTA is grateful to the UK Government and DfT for their clear support
over these difficulties and in particular the need for industry to be
given adequate time to equip itself. The earlier statement by the Minister
represented all that was within the power of DfT to do at that time and
FTA applauded that direct response to its requests for clarification
and leadership, which followed on from its strong advocacy of industry’s
problems at the meeting of stakeholders in Brussels held by FTA in May
2003.
James Hookham, FTA Policy Director said, ‘There can be little
doubt that this action, coupled with that taken by FTA in instructing
solicitors to advise the Commission that it would be held liable for
any wasted costs, expenditure or damage incurred by the industry as a
result of the failure to meet its obligations, has brought about this
long overdue statement.’
FTA will work to ensure that the key elements of the transitional arrangements
are observed in accordance with the Commissioner’s statement.
FTA campaigned for the earliest possible voluntary use date, and the
latest possible compulsory fitment date, compatible with the practicalities
presented by manufacturers. This EC statement goes a long way to satisfying
those demands.
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